INTEGRATIVE HEALTH, MICROBIOME TESTING, HOLISTIC NUTRITION, 1:1 HEALTH COACHING
Christina Payne, MD, NTP,
RWS Level 2 Practitioner
My name is Christina Payne. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of South Carolina. I am a board-certified Internal Medicine physician in pursuit of root-cause and lifestyle medicine solutions for the Midlands of South Carolina. I received my medical degree from MUSC in Charleston, SC and completed my Internal Medicine residency in 2010 at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
After spending the majority of my career in the hospital, I took a professional break to focus on my children and family. During that time, I experienced significant personal health challenges that were met in the medical world with frustrating dead-ends resulting in continued symptoms and disease progression in my own body. It was in this time that I began to learn more about the root-cause, functional medicine approach to disease as I began my own journey to wellness.
The knowledge I gained on that path is just the tip of the iceberg and I realize I have much to learn in the areas of functional and lifestyle medicine. To that end, I continually pursue educational opportunities and professional certifications from the thought leaders and professional organizations in functional, lifestyle and integrative medicine. My approach with patients in this practice combines both nutritional therapy and the latest evidence-based science to perform root-cause analysis of medical disease and diagnoses. I am constantly integrating new testing strategies and lab analysis along with the knowledge gained from my endeavors into my practice. My goal is to come alongside you and your medical team in your own journey to wellness, taking a whole-body, foundational approach that incorporates the latest evidence-based medicine with a sound whole-foods and lifestyle first mindset.
I have specific interest in chronic inflammatory disease processes surrounding the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome such as obesity, diabetes (and insulin resistance), and dyslipidemia. Additionally, I am passionate about helping patients find nutritional and lifestyle triggers related to autoimmunity (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, etc), digestive disease (SIBO, GERD, microscopic colitis) and dermatologic conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc).
The quotes that best describe my professional approach are from Hippocrates and include:
“Before you heal someone, ask him if he's willing to give up the things that make him sick.”
“All disease begins in the gut.”
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
